Shock-absorber.



J. L. LAWRENCE.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED PIIB.29,1912.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

CoLuMmA PLANouRAPn co.. wAsulNn'roN. D. C.'

JOHN L. LAWRENCE, OF LAWRENCE, NEW YORK,

SIIOCKfABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

Application led February 28, 1912 Serial No. 680,423.

To (1U 't0/Leni z'' may concern Be it known that l, JOHN L. Lawnmvcn, a citizen of the United Stat: s, and a resident of Lawrence, Long' Island, county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbers, set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to a shock absorbing device for retarding and preventing,` the too sudden compression and recoil of a spring, such as is comprised :in the runnineI gear of a vehicle or in a recoil carriage.

The device is applicable to a wide range 0f uses, but is particularly designed for use upon automobiles and similar vehicles the supporting springs of which are frequently subject to sudden and severe compression and distention, which result not only in possible damage to the springl structure but :in a heavy and unpleasant Olting or bouncingof the chassis and consequently of the passengers carried in the vehicle.

rlhis invention is designed so as not to interfere with the normal movement of the spring but is arranged to prevent the too sudden and severe movement.

A further object is to provide a structure of this class which is simple, practicable7 of few and substantial parts; which may be manufactured at small cost; and which may be easily installed.

The above and further objects of the invention are set forth in the following claims. These claims should be read in connection with this specification which has reference to illustrative embodiments of the invention, shown in the accompanying' drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Figure l is an elevational View showing the device applied between the running gear and chassis of a vehicle, parts being broken away and shown in section for better disclosing` the interior structure; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line II-II of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a t'ansverse horizontal sectional view on the plane of line lIl-lll of Fig. l; and Fig'. t is a similar section taken on the plane of line IV--IV of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals l indicates a portion of the chassis of the vehicle and 2 the adjacent underlying' portion of t-he usual elliptical spring.

3 indicates the axle upon which the spring i2 is supported. lhe spring 2 is fixed to the axle 3 by the usual yoke member l and the upper plate as 5 of said member is preferably 'tormed with ears G between which is pivotally mounted the lower portion 7 of the device, as upon the pin or bolt 8. Fixed to the under surface of the chassis l is a plate 9 formed with ears 10 between which is pivotally mounted the upper member l1 of the device7 as upon pin or bolt 1Q. These mountingrs and the method of fixing the same to the running gear and chassis form no particular part of this invention, their sole function being to provide a convenient pivotal support for the two main elements 7 and ll of the structure.

The. main elements of the strut-,ture comprise members adapted to slide past one another each of the members being;r provided with a slot. A cooperating' pin or bar engages these slots to retard the relative movement of the members by friction and by the inertia resistance of the pin which must be bodily moved. lhese members may comprise any suitable form. The embodiment illustrated comprises parts described as follows: 'lhe lower member 7 comprises a pair of parallelly disposed rectangular plates 13 spaced apart and connected at their bottom ends by an integrally, or separately formed block" 'lllwhich extends preferably below the bottom ends of the plates lf3 and has pivotal. connection with the bolt: 8. A casingV l5 entirely surrounds the plates 13 so as to retain said plates in fixed spaced relation and to close the otherwise open space between the edges of said plates as at 1G. This cas ing forms a rectangular receptacle within the lower portion of which may be retained a quantity of lubricant as 17. The upper member l1 of the device comprises a rectanguiar plate of si'ibstantially the same length as the plates 1S, and of a cross sectional arca to fit snugly between the inner surfaces of the plates i3 and between the inner surfaces of the portions 1G of the casing' 15. The lower end of the member 1l is normally spaced above the upper surface of the spacing: block lt a distance substantially the same as the space between the upper end of the member 7 and the ears l0, so as to permit the unobstructed telescopic movement of the members. Adjacent the upper edges of the plates 13 the same are formed with transversely extending grooves in their inner faces Within which are titted packing members '18 which bear upon the opposite side faces ot the member 11. ln the same plane with the packings 18, the upper ends ot the portions 16 ot the casing 15 are recessed and fitted With packing members 19 adapted to bear against the opposite edge faces or the member 11. These packings 18 and 19 etlectually prevent the escape of the lubricant 17 from Within the casing. At a po'nt spaced Yfrom the lower end of the member 11 the same is provided with a transversely extending slot or guideivay 2O extending entirely through the material of said member. lfach ot the plates 13 is formed With a slot or guideway 21 preterably, though not necessarily formed entirely through the material of said plate. The slots or guideivays 21 extend in parallel planes and are inclined relative to the slot 20, and a pin or bar 22 extends through the slot 20 and has its opposite ends projecting into the slots 21. bviously, the guideWays 21 may comprise each only a straight slot inclined to the desired degree, if desired, but, for the salte of compactness and neatn-ess in the structure, it is deemed preferable to employ a succession of slots arranged in the fashion shown. rlhe zig-zag slots also increase the inertia-resistance of the bodily moving pin by alternately moving it bringing it to rest and moving it again in a lateral direction. The slot 20 is ot a length so that its opposite end Walls coincide substantially With the vertical planes of the outer Walls of the bends or ends of the slots 21 so that the bar 22 may have unobstructed movement along the slot 21.

ln the operation of the structure illustrated the relative movement of the chassis 1 and spring member Q, produces a telescoping movement oi' the member 11 into theV member 7. As the lower end of the member 11 plunges into the lubricant 17 the displaced lubricant is forced upwardly along the slots 21 and into the slot 20, for lubricating said slots, for lubricating the bar 2Q, and also for lubricating the juxtaposed engaging vertical faces oit' the parts. ln order that the lubricant maytind a ready passage around the bar 22 the outer corners ot the slots 21 are cut away as at 23.

llVhat is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is 1. A shock absorber comprising a casing; a plunger movable Within said casing, said casing and said plunger being formed with guideways; and independent means bodily movable along said guideways for retarding the movements of said plunger.

2. A shock absorber comprising a casing; a plunger movable relative to said casing; one of said members being 'formed with a guideway; and means movable transversely of the other of said members adapted to engage said guideivay for retarding the movements ot said plunger.

3. A shock absorber comprising relatively movable members, one of said members having a guideway formed therein and another ot said members having a relatively inclined guideWay formed therein; and independent means bodily movable along said guideWays :tor retarding the relative movements ot said members.

a. A shock absorber comprising relatively movable members, one ot said members having a guideway formed therein and another ot said members having a relatively inclined guideivay formed therein; and a single independently formed member bodily movable along said guideways adapted to engage said guidevvay for retarding the relative movements of said members.

5. 1n a shock absorber, theJ combination comprising substantially telescoping members, and means movable With one of said members adapted to move bodily transversely thereof and having trictional engagement. with the other of said members for retarding the relative telescopic movement oi said members.

6. A shock absorber' comprising a pair of relatively movable members, one ot said members having a guideway formed therein and the other of said members having a giiitleway disposed at an incline relative to said iirst guideivay; and means extending through the guidevvay of one of said members engaging the guideivay ot the other of said members for retarding the movements ot said members.

7. A. shock absorber comprising a pair of relatively movable members, one of said members having a guideway formed therein and the other or said members having a pair ot relatively inclined guideivays; and means extending through said first mentioned..

guideway engaging said last mentioned guideways for retarding the movements of said members.

8. A shock absorber comprising a pair ot relatively movable slotted members, the slot oit one ot said members being Zig-ragged relative to the slot of the other of said members, and means engaging in said slots for retarding the movements of said members. Y

9. A shock absorber, comprising a pair of relatively movable rectangular plates having juxtaposed flat faces, one ot said plates having a substantially transverse guidevvay and the other oit said plates having a substantially longitudinal guideway arranged at an incline relative to said lirst guideyvay; and means engaging in said guidevvays for retarding the relative movements of said plates.

10. A, shock absorber, comprising a pair of relatively movable rectangular plates name to this specification in the presence of having juxtaposed fiat faces, each o said two subscribing wltliesses.

lates loeinO' formed with a 0fudeway; and Y, igndependen means bodily mtovable in said JOHN L' LAWVRPJNGI" 5 guideways for retarding the relative movel/Vitnesses:

ment of said plates. LEONARD DAY,

In witness whereof I have signed my L. GERSFORD HANDY.

Copies of this patent may Toe obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

